Laboratory specimen mailer

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to new and improved, reusable mailer packages specially adapted for the safe transportation to a laboratory of a specimen, e.g., human blood, contained in a plurality of fragile test tubes and a fragile microscope slide, through the mails, regardless of the severity of rough handling to which the specimen mailer may be subjected. The complete mailer assembly comprises nested, elongated cylindrical plastic cups both of which are closed by end caps. The nested cups are disposed and maintained in a predetermined spaced relationship to one another by a cushioning disc spacer fabricated of a suitable resilient material such as expanded plastic foam. Disposed within the inner cylindrical plastic cup is a plastic divider structure which divides the inner cup into four test tube compartments and one microscope slide compartment.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Paul A. Brown Portsmouth, NH.

[21 1 Appl. No. 879,735

[22] Filed Nov. 25, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971 [73] Assignee Metropolitan Pathology Laboratory, inc.

Teaneck, NJ.

[54] LABORATORY SPECIMEN MAILER 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,918 10/1891 Kraetzer... 217/127 474,940 5/1892 Barnes 217/127 1,672,904 6/1928 Randall 206/1 UX Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Allorney-Mandeville and Schweitzer ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to new and improved, reusable mailer packages specially adapted for the safe transportation to a laboratory of a specimen, e.g., human blood, contained in a plurality offragile test tubes and a fragile microscope slide, through the mails, regardless of the severity of rough handling to which the specimen mailer may be subjected. The complete mailer assembly comprises nested, elongated cylindrical plastic cups both of which are closed by end caps. The nested cups are disposed and maintained in a predetermined spaced relationship to one another by a cushioning disc spacer fabricated ofa suitable resilient material such as expanded plastic foam. Disposed within the inner cylindrical plastic cup is a plastic divider structure which divides the inner cup into four test tube compartments and one microscope slide compartment.

PAIENTEDuuv 23 IHYI 3,621 .994

INVENTOR. PAUL A. BROWN ATTORNEYS LABORATORY SPECIMEN MAILER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Glass test tubes, vacutainers," and the like as well as glass microscopic slides are commonly dispatched from one location to another for analysis, testing, study, etc., through the mails. For this purpose, a wide variety of conventional packaging media have been employed with varying degrees of success. However, a completely reliable, simple-to-use, efficient, unbreakable, mailer for fragile specimen tubes and the like has not been available to the medical and allied arts. Accordingly, it is to the provision of a new and improved specimen mailer having all of the aforementioned attributes that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an improved, nonbreakabl'e, highly efficient mailer for glass specimen tubes and microscope slides comprises a pair of nested cylinders or cups, the inner one of which is cushioned and loosely fitted (as contrasted with a tight or snug fit) within the outer one. The circular cross sections of the nested cups as well as their loosely fitted, nested relationship tends to minimize the shock forces presented at the inner faces of the inner cylinder.

The inner cylinder of the specimen mailer includes a unique divider structure which compartmentalizes the space within the inner cylindrical cup into four test tube compartments and one slide holding compartment. The inner divider structure is firmly and tightly retained by a friction fit within the inner cup, however, its dimensions are such that it loosely retains the specimen tubes and firmly retains the microscope specimen which are to be mailed. This arrangement has been found to minimize breakage of glass specimen tubes and glass microscope slides during their transit through the mails in which the entire container may be subjected to substantial impact forces from dropping, rough handling, etc.

Advantageously, the divider structure may be formed from a pair of extruded plastic members having identical configurations which members are placed in a back-to-back relationship within the inner cup. In accordance with the invention, the dimensions of the divider structure and inner cup are selected relative to the dimensions of the test tubes to be mailed therein in such a manner that the test tubes are loosely," rather than rigidly or tightly restrained against movement within the inner plastic cup. The geometry and interrelationship of the elements of the new mailer are such that the glass specimen tubes and slide are loosely retained therein and are maximally cushioned against deleterious shock forces which would otherwise tend to cause breakage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded, perspective view of a new specimen mailer embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an assembled specimen mailer taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the new specimen container taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the new and improved mailer embodying the principles of the present invention includes an outer, generally cylindrical, elongated plastic cup 10, an inner, elongated cylindrical cup 11, a compartmentalizing plastic divider structure 12 for the inner cup 11, and end caps 13 and 14 for the cups I1 and 10, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner plastic cup 11, which advantageously may be polyethylene, polystyrene, polypmplyene. polyvinyl chloride, or any other readily availablc polymer or material (e.g., aluminum) which is lightweight and provides high impact strength, is a cylindrical cup having a horizontal base wall 15 and an annular vertical wall 16. The

length of the wall 16 is slightly greater than the length of the specimen tubes T which are to be retained and mailed therein. The uppennost end of the inner cup 11 is provided with threads 17 or other suitable mechanical locking means for engaging appropriate threads 17 or locking means on the end cap 13 which, of course, closes off the inner cup 11. This end cap 13 may be advantageously fabricated of any of the aforementioned plastic or any other suitable material having. the requisite strength properties.

In accordance with a more'specific aspect of the invention, the inner cup 11 is divided into a plurality of compartments by the divider structure 12 which comprises a pair of plastic divider elements 20, 21 which are identical in configuration.

More specifically, the twin elements 20, 21 each include a vertical wall 22 and pairs of articulated ar'cuate walls 23, 24 integral therewith. Thus, each of the divider sections 20, 21 has a generally B-shaped cross section definitive of a pair of sideby-side test tube compartments of U-shaped cross section. The width of each of the U-shaped test tube compartments is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the test tubes T to be mailed therein, in accordance with an important principle of the invention. The length of elements 20, 21 is less than that of the cup 11. In that manner the test tubes will be retained loosely (rather than rigidly) during transit. The specific clearance between the test tube and the compartment forming walls 23 and 24 is minimal, however, it is sufficient to accommodate lateral,- shock absorbing displacement within each compartment when the inner cup is subjected to impact forces that are not otherwise absorbed or dissipated by the cushioned, nested relationship of the inner and outer cups, as will be understood.

Each of the divider structures 21 and 20 has a horizontal bottom wall 25 extending complctely'thereacross, which wall has defined therein apertures 26 centrally of each of the four compartments defined by the walls 23, 24. These apertures 26 are proportioned in a manner whereby the edges of the apertures will engage the hemispherical bottoms of standard specimen tubes or vacutainer" tubes in a manner to generally stabilize and support the same within the inner cup 11. Additionally, the divider structures 20, 21 cooperate to form a fifth compartment adapted to receive and safely retain a microscope slide specimen S. As shown, the outer surface of each of the vertical walls 22 has formed therein a rectangular recess of width slightly greater than that of a microscope slide and of length lessthan that of a microscope slide. The com bined depth of the recesses 27 is approximately equal to the thickness of the glass plates which make up a slide specimen. As will'be understood and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the juxtaposed divider elements 21, 20 cooperate to define an open, slide receiving slot 28 comprised of the two recesses 27. As shown in FIG 2', a microscope slide specimen S may be vertically sandwiched in the slot 28 between the parallel rows of two test tubes T. Advantageously, when the divider structures 20, 21 are resilient plastic, the walls 27 tend to bow inwardly of the slot 28 and thereby tend to firmly retain the fragile slide S. The elements 20, 21 are friction fitted within the cup 11.

The inner cup 11 is adapted to be disposed within an outer mailing cup 10 for transport to a testing laboratory. The outer cup is generally cylindrical, although its annular walls 30 taper slightly from the open top to the base 31, as shown best in FIG. 2. In this manner, a substantially uniform, minimum clearance may be maintained between the side edges of the cap 13 and the upper inner surfaces of the sidewalls 30 and the lower sidewalls of the inner cup 11 and the lower inner wall surfaces 30 of the cup 10. This uniform clearance is selected to provide some minimal lateral movement between the inner and outer cups to provide further shock absorption. As a further specific and important aspect of the invention, the bottom wall of the inner cup 11 is spaced from the bottom wall 31 of the outer cup by a spacer disc 33 'of expanded, rigid plastic foam (e.g., urethane, polystyrene) or other suitable spacing and cushioning material. The thickness of the foam disc 33 is selected to maintain the desired predetermined clearance between the bottom portions of the inner cup wall 16 and the lower portions of the outer cup wall 30 as well as for maintaining predetermined slight clearance between the planar surfaces of the caps 13 and 14, as will be understood. Therefore, the inner cup 11 will be slightly displaceable both longitudinally and laterally within the outer cup for the absorption of impact forces.

As shown in FIG. 2, the open upper end of the outer mailer cup 10 includes threads 34 formed thereon which are adapted to mate with internal threads on the closure cap 14 which cap may be advantageously fabricated of the same material as the cup 10 or of another suitable shatterproof material. Advantageously, the outer cup 10 may be permanently addressed, c.g., by silk screening the outer surface at 10', with business reply prepaid postage for repeated use.

In practice, a physician or other person desiring to obtain analysis of test specimens will be provided with several mailer assemblies of the type disclosed herein. When specimens have been obtained in conventional glass tubes such as vacutainers, the tubes may be simply inserted within each of the compartments of the inner cup H and a slide or smear, if one has been made, may be simply inserted within the open slide slot 28. Thereafter, the inner tube may be simply closed by the cap l3 and the inner cup may be nested within the outer cup which may then be safely and securely closed by the end cap 14. This entire assembly, constituting the new and improved mailer of the present invention, may then be deposited in the mail (assuming that the outer cup 10 has been preaddressed and supplied with prepaid postage) for forwarding to a laboratory.

The circular cross sections of the nested inner and outer cups 10 and 11, along with the unique divider configuration, and the cushioning and spacing of the various elements of the mailer, i.e., the inner cup 11 within the outer cup 10; and the test tubes T within the divider structure 12; provide vastly improved cushioning and protection of glass specimen tubes than has heretofore been available. This arrangement of parts and design of the new mailer has substantially eliminated breakage during mailing of specimens. However, in the unlikely event that a specimen tube does break in transit, the specimen will not be lost because it will be trapped within the confines ofthe inner cup 11.

It should be understood that the specimen mailer herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A laboratory specimen mailer comprising a. an outer generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material,

b. a closeable outer sealing cap for said outer cup,

c. an inner generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material,

d. a closeable inner sealing cap for said inner cup,

said inner cup being telescopically receivable within said outer cup in a nested relation, said outer cup being deeper than said inner cup and accommodating therein limited lateral and longitudinal displacement ofsaid inner cup,

. cushioning spacer means disposed between the bottom walls of said nested cups, h. divider means of less than full inner cup depth disposed within said inner cup to compartmentalize the same,

i. said divider means comprising a pair of abutted tubular members definitive of a plurality of specimen compartments,

j. at least one of said tubular members including a fiat wall, having a rectangular recess formed at the uppermost end thereof, and

k. said recess defining, in part, a microscope slide receiving slot.

2. The laboratory s ecime n mailer of claim 1, in which a. said shatterproo material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene,

b. said spacer means is a foam disc.

3. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim I, in which a. said outer cup is slightly convergently tapered from top to bottom.

4. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 1, which further includes a. a plurality offragile specimen tubes,

b. said divider means defining plural compartments,

c. the outer diameter of said specimen tubes being slightly less than the width of the compartments defined by said divider means,

(1. whereby said specimen tubes are slightly displaceable within said compartments.

A laboratory specimen mailer comprising an outer generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material,

. a closeable outer sealing cap for said outer cup,

an inner generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material,

. a closeable inner sealing cap for said inner cup,

. said inner cup being telescopically receivable within said outer cup in a nested relation,

said outer cup being deeper than said inner cup and accommodating therein limited lateral and longitudinal displacement of said inner cup,

g. cushioning spacer means disposed between the bottom walls of said nested cups,

h. divider means of less than full inner cup depth disposed within said inner cup to compartmentalized the same,

. said divider means comprising a pair of vertical tubular members having a generally B-shaped cross section definitive of four test tube compartments,

j. outer vertical surfaces of said tubular members engaging inner vertical surfaces of said inner cup for retention thereby when said members are butted in back-to-back relation within said inner cup.

6. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 5, in which a. each ofsaid tubular elements having vertical flat walls,

b. an open recess being defined at the upper portions of said fiat wall,

c. said tubular members being butted with said recesses in substantial registry to define a microscope slide receiving slot.

7. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 5, in which a. said vertical tubular members include bottom horizontal walls generally spanning the lower ends of said members,

b. said horizontal walls include means for engaging said stabilizing spherical test tube bottoms.

8. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 7, in which a. said means for engaging and stabilizing test tube bottoms comprises the edges of apertures formed in said bottom horizontal walls. 

1. A laboratory specimen mailer comprising a. an outer generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material, b. a closeable outer sealing cap for said outer cup, c. an inner generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material, d. a closeable inner sealing cap for said inner cup, e. said inner cup being telescopically receivable within said outer cup in a nested relation, f. said outer cup being deeper than said inner cup and accommodating therein limited lateral and longitudinal displacement of said inner cup, g. cushioning spacer means disposed between the bottom walls of said nested cups, h. divider means of less than full inner cup depth disposed within said inner cup to compartmentalize the same, i. said divider means comprising a pair of abutted tubular members definitive of a plurality of specimen compartments, j. at least one of said tubular members including a flat wall, having a rectangular recess formed at the uppermost end thereof, and k. said recess defining, in part, a microscope slide receiving slot.
 2. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 1, in which a. said shatterproof material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene, b. said spacer means is a foam disc.
 3. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 1, in which a. said outer cup is slightly convergently tapered from top to bottom.
 4. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 1, which further includes a. a plurality of fragile specimen tubes, b. said divider means defining plural compartments, c. the outer diameter of said specimen tubes being slightly less than the width of the compartments defined by said divider means, d. whereby said specimen tubes are slightly displaceable within said compartments.
 5. A laboratory specimen mailer comprising a. an outer generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material, b. a closeable outer sealing cap for said outer cup, c. an inner generally cylindrical cup of lightweight, shatterproof, high impact resistant material, d. a closeable inner sealing cap for said inner cup, e. said inner cup being telescopically receivable within said outer cup in a nested relation, f. said outer cup being deeper than said inner cup and accommodating therein limited lateral and longitudinal displacement of said inner cup, g. cushioning spacer means disposed between the bottom walls of said nested cups, h. divider means of less than full inner cup depth disposed within said inner cup to compartmentalized the same, i. said divider means comprising a pair of vertical tubular members having a generally B-shaped cross section definitive of four test tube compartments, j. outer vertical surfaces of said tubular members engaging inner vertical surfaces of said inner cup for retention thereby when said members are butted in back-to-back relation within said inner cup.
 6. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 5, in which a. each of said tubular elements havinG vertical flat walls, b. an open recess being defined at the upper portions of said flat wall, c. said tubular members being butted with said recesses in substantial registry to define a microscope slide receiving slot.
 7. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 5, in which a. said vertical tubular members include bottom horizontal walls generally spanning the lower ends of said members, b. said horizontal walls include means for engaging said stabilizing spherical test tube bottoms.
 8. The laboratory specimen mailer of claim 7, in which a. said means for engaging and stabilizing test tube bottoms comprises the edges of apertures formed in said bottom horizontal walls. 